Programmed cord cutter

ABSTRACT

A device for cutting a cord at any ocean depth in order to release buoys, floats, corers, mines etc. The device includes a knife blade which is held in place by a release mechanism in a loaded position which upon release forces the knife blade through the cord to release a pay load.

[451 May 1, i973 Elniiefi Siaies flint 91 Greene et a1.

9/1971 Riordan........ ..........83/639X PROGRAMMED CORD CUTTER [75]Inventors: Michael L.

3,606.812 2,140,214 12/1938 Temple,.lr.... 3,063,395

Greene Hlllcrest 11/1962 Brown ....83/586 x sights) Thg lf waugh3,246,396 4/1966 Temple 6: al..... ....s3/ss0 x ens 3,662,634 5/1972Burke.................................83/639 x FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: The United States of America as representedby the Seeretary of the Navy 1,303,616 8/1962France...................................83/580 [22] Filed: Nov. 24,1971 Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Attorney-R. S. Sciascia et a1.

[2]] Appl. No.1 201,906

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,798 5/1962Martin.............................82/639 UX 4 Claims, 1 Drawing FigurePROGRAMMED CORD CUTTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This disclosurerelates to release mechanisms and more particularly to automaticreleasing mechanisms for releasing objects held by a cord, line orsimilar element which may be severed by a cutter.

Heretofore, various complicated mechanical and electrically triggeredmechanisms have been used for releasing different types of devices. Suchrelease devices include plungers, trips, electric motors, etc. Some ofthese fail because of electrical and/or mechanical problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention makes use of a time controlledconnector or linkage which secures a movable cutter blade in a loadedposition within a housing. Upon release by the time controlledconnector, the knife blade moves within the housing to sever a cord,rope, line or any suitable severable element which may be used to hold adesired object in place. The knife blade is movable within the housingwhich is secured to the line which supports the pay load; therefore,there is no loadstrain on the housing which holds the knife blade inplace.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a simple, inexpensive, reusable device forreleasing an object under time controlled conditions.

Another object is to provide a release mechanism which is capable ofhandling large loads compared with the size of the device.

Still another object is to provide a release mechanism which is separatefrom the means for holding an object to the device.

Yet another object is to store and release an energy driven cutter forcutting a line to release a desired object when desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing is a partial sectional viewillustrating the relative parts of the device in perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE Now referring to the drawing, thereis shown by illustration a cutter blade release mechanism made inaccordance with the teaching of this invention. As shown, the deviceincludes a cylindrical, elongated, open ended, housing which is providedwith external threads 11 on one end thereof. Near the opposite end ofthe housing, is provided an aperture 12 perpendicular to the axisthrough which a dowel pin 13 is inserted to extend from opposite sidesof the housing in equal amounts. Upwardly from dowel pin 13 there isprovided an aperture 14 in a plane at 90 relative to the dowel pin 13.The aperture 14 -is of a diameter to receive therethrough a cord, line,or rope of a sufficient size to carry a desireable payload and to whicha release mechanism is secured for release of the payload. Oppositelinear slots 15 are made within the housing and extending along thecentral section in the same plane as the dowel pin 13. A solidcylindrical, knife holder slide 16 is secured within the housing foraxial movement therein by use of a dowel pin 17 which passes through theslots 15 in the housing and an aperture 18 in the knife holder slide 16.The end of the knife holder facing the dowel pin 13 has a V-shaped thinknife blade 19 secured thereto such that the blade is in the same planeas the dowel pins 13 and 17, and perpendicular to the aperture 14 suchthat movement of the slide and knife blade will sever a line that passesthrough the aperture 14. The energy for movement of the knife blade inthe housing may be provided by strong elastic bands 21 or other elasticmaterial or springs secured to the dowel pins 13 and 17 which applies aforce on the slide as the slide is moved away from the aperture 14. Theend of the slide opposite from the knife blade is provided with anaxially aligned aperture 22 that extends from the end surface to anaperture 23 perpendicular thereto. The housing 10 is provided with anaperture 24 upward from slots 15 in the same plane as the dowel pins andwhich aligns with the aperture 23 in the slide when the slide is in aloaded position. The housing is provided with an aperture 25 that onlyextends through one wall, a short distance from aperture 24. The slide16 is provided with a threaded aperture 26 that extends to the axiallyaligned aperture 22 which receives therein a set screw 27 throughaperture 25. The housing in the area above the slide is provided withadditional apertures 28 through which a fluid may pass into the areabounded by the housing.

A cap 31 is screw threaded onto the threaded end of the housing and isitself provided with an axially aligned threaded aperture 32. An adapter34 having an axially aligned hole 33 therethrough is provided with ashort threaded end that threads into the axial aperture in the cap and alonger threaded end 35 that extends outwardly from the body of theadapter. The adapter may be made of a material which may serve as anelectrical insulator.

The slide is secured in place by a control release mechanism 40. Therelease mechanism includes a rod or wire 41 that extends into theaxially aligned aperture 22 in the slide and which is secured thereto bythe set screw 27. A rod or wire 42 extending from the opposite end ofthe release mechanism is passed through the axially aligned hole 33 inthe adaptor and bent around the outer threaded end of the adapter. Ahigh voltage terminal 43 is slid over the outer threaded end 35 of theadapter and secured against the wire 42 by a terminal cap 44 which isthreaded onto the adapter. If desired, a washer 45 may be placed betweenthe wire and the body of the adapter.

The release mechanism may be made of any desired controlled element. Onesuch controlled element is a low watt resistor which disintegrates upona surge of high voltage electrical current being sent through the lowwatt resistorpThe electrical surge may be controlled remotely with asuitable circuitry connected to the low watt resistor. In order tocomplete the circuit a ground connection must be made with the housingor the wire connected with the low watt resistor and extending from thehousing.

Another type of release is a corrosive link which will corrode due tothe surrounding environment such as sea water.

The cutter-release device may be light weight and small for instance 7inches long with an outside diameter of inch with 54; inch dowel pins ofl inches in length. Since the release mechanism holds the knife bladeslide in a loaded position against the energy of the rubber bands, therelease mechanism must be of sufficient strength to secure the knifeslide in place. The housing, slide, and dowel pins may be made of metalor any other desired material that will not be effected by theenvironment in which the device is to be used.

In assembly, the parts are all made up, dowel pin 13 is inserted intoplace then the knife blade slide 116 is inserted through the cap end anddowel pin 17 is inserted through the slots and through aperture 18 inthe slide. Without the rubber bands in place, the slide is moved to itsfurtherest position from dowel pin 13 such that the aperture 23 in theslide aligns with the aperture 24 in the housing. The release mechanism40 is inserted through the cap end and the inner wire 41 is insertedinto the axially aligned aperture 22 in the upper end of the slide. Thewire is inserted into the aperture until the end can be seen through theapertures 23 and 24. The set screw is then threaded into place againstthe wire thereby securing the wire in the aperture of the slide. Theadapter 34 is threaded into the end cap 31 and the end cap is thenthreaded onto the housing with the wire 42 extending through theaperture 33 in the adapter. The end of wire 42 is then wrapped aroundthe outer end of the adapter and any excess wire is cut off. Theelectrical high voltage terminal 43 is then slid over the end 35 of theadapter and the terminal cap 44 is threaded onto the outer end of theadapter thereby holding or securing the wire in place. The cutterreleaseis now ready for use by securing the device to a line to be severed andthe rubber bands are placed on the dowels to supply energy to the slideand knife blade.

The device may be used to release any size load that can be held by aline which passes through the cord aperture and which may be severed bythe knife blade. Of course, if considerable weight is being held by theline, the weight will aide in severing the line due to its weight orpull on the line.

in use, for releasing a load held by a line, the line is passed throughthe cord aperture in the housing of the cutter-release device. With theknife blade slide secured in place by a release mechanism, an energyload is applied to the knife blade slide by placing rubber bands aroundthe dowel pins or by use of suitable springs. The load may now be placedwherever desired. When using a low watt resistor release mechanism ahigh voltage current is electrically connected with the low wattresistor and when it is desired to release the load, the electricalcircuit is closed and the low watt resistor desintegrates therebyreleasing wire 41. This permits movement of the knife blade slide towardthe line thereby severing the line that passes through the cord aperturein the housing. Once the line has been severed, the load is released.

The load may be released by use of a corrosive link of the type known asPop-Ups" manufactured by Oceane-Tica, Inc, Miami, Fla. and described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,426,472. Time delays may be varied from a few hours toseveral days by sellecting different size corrosive links. The delay iscalculated by use of known charts. When using the corrosive link, theload to be released is placed in salt water or other solution whichattacks the material. The salt water enters the housing through theapertures 28 in the housing in the vicinity of the corrosive linkthereby reacting with the material to release the knife blade slide.

For release of payloads in different surroundings, different chemicalmaterials may be used. The materials used should be able to hold theknife blade slide in place and to be attacked by the surroundings inwhich the payload is to be released. Therefore, the release mechanism ischoosen to be compatible with the surrounding in which the payload is tobe released. Electrical releases may be more advantageous in someinstances where chemical releases may be more advantages in other areas.

In some cases the knife blade may be held in place by a corrosive linkand the chemical material that attacks the corrosive link may be packedaround the corrosive link with a chemical reaction releasing the knifeblade. Timing may be carried out experimentally. Of course, the chemicalmaterial would not be added to the housing until the payload was readyto be launched.

The cutter-release mechanism has been described as using rubber bandsfor movement of the knife blade slide. It is obvious that other energysupplying means may be used such as springs connected to the dowels orthe dowels may be removed and an internal compression spring placedbetween the end of the knife blade slide and the end cap of the housing.The device would be loaded in the same manner as described above.

The release mechanism may be used at any ocean depth to releaseoceanographic equipment or at any height in the atmosphere to releaseupper air research devices. Further use may apply to mine layingoperations.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. it is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A cutter-release device which comprises:

an open ended cylindrical tubular housing,

an aperture through said housing near one end thereof normal to the axisthrough which a line may pass,

a knife blade holder slide means in said housing for axial movementtherein a knife blade held by said slide means in a plane perpendicularto said aperture through said housing through which said line may pass,

a disintegratable controlled release mechanism within said housing inaxial alignment with said knife blade holder slide means for securingsaid knife blade holder slide in a loaded position against a force loadapplied to said knife blade holder slide means, and

means for applying a drive force to said slide means whereby said slidemeans is forced toward said aperture through which said line passes upondisintegration of said release mechanism.

2. A cutter-release device as claimed in claim 1;

wherein,

said release mechanism is a low watt resistor which disintegrates uponpassage of a high current surge through said resistor thereby releasingsaid slide.

a. A cutter-release device as claimed in claim 1;

5 wherein,

said force applying means is an elastic material.

1. A cutter-release device which comprises: an open ended cylindricaltubular housing, an aperture through said housing near one end thereofnormal to the axis through which a line may pass, a knife blade holderslide means in said housing for axial movement therein, a knife bladeheld by said slide means in a plane perpendicular to said aperturethrough said housing through which said line may pass, a disintegratablecontrolled release mechanism within said housing in axial alignment withsaid knife blade holder slide means for securing said knife blade holderslide in a loaded position against a force load applied to said knifeblade holder slide means, and means for applying a drive force to saidslide means whereby said slide means is forced toward said aperturethrough which said line passes upon disintegration of said releasemechanism.
 2. A cutter-release device as claimed in claim 1; wherein,said release mechanism is forced of a corrosive material which has acorrosive reaction when the device is placed in a desired environmentthereby releasing said slide means upon disintegration of saiddisintegratable controlled release mechanism.
 3. A cutter-release deviceas claimed in claim 1; wherein, said release mechanism is a low wattresistor which disintegrates upon passage of a high current surgethrough said resistor thereby releasing said slide.
 4. A cutter-releasedevice as claimed in claim 1; wherein, said force applying means is anelastic material.